Kendal Common committee adopts "mid-century modern" label, approves homeowner letter

WESTON — March 23, 2023 — Weston's Kendal Common study committee adopts "mid-century modern" and clears a homeowner letter for distribution. Consultant Stacy Spies told the committee Thursday she has nearly finished photographing the neighborhood and expects a draft survey "before the summer is upon us," and reported that the Massachusetts Historical Commission has formally adopted "mid-century modern" as a survey-form category after her Weston work prompted the change. Committee member David Wright cautioned that "architects hate having their stuff called a style," tracing "International Style" to a 1932 Philip Johnson coinage, but members agreed to use the mid-century term publicly. Neighborhood liaison Rick warned that "somewhere in the order of 50 percent of the houses, people have no idea what we're talking about," urging accessible outreach. The letter, bolded to note any district requires approval "by homeowners and by Town Meeting," will go by email through Kendal Common association secretary Barbara Fike. Next meeting: April 20.